WorsStar Files (.WSD) Quest

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Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general,microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

Hi,

Please forgive the cross-post; I think I need a wide audience to find the
experience I need.

I am trying to recover some very old *.WSD files created by the old word
processor WordStar. I'm not sure whether it was the older DOS version or
the later Windows version that was used to create them, but from the dates I
suspect a mix.

Does anyone know of a converter that would be capable of saving/changing
these to Windows XP format; any of the Office or up to date apps would be
fine as there are probably viewers it it's an app I don't have?
I'd prefer something that might be able to work in a batch mode, but even
having to open/close each file would still be acceptable - beggers can't be
choosers, right? <g>

I've tried the Office programs to no avail. Somewhere, I still have the
WordStar for windows floppies, but they're so old that I doubt they'll be
useful even if I do find them. They might even be CP/M hard-sectored format
if I do find them so even if I could read them they're probably nothing but
garbage by now.

I am familiar with the WordStar file format, and I could actually get them
back by manually editing them, but ... that's a pretty daunting task as
there are quite a few I suddenly find myself needing. Besides, I'd rather
get them all of course, and add them to the archives. Back in "that day"
backups and archives weren't even buzz words yet, and when the switch to MS
came along after WS went belly up, I never thought about converting them.
C'est le vie!
I have a win98 machine, full version and another winME CD set, if those
might have anything useful.

REWARD: Anyone providing a solution to this problem will earn my eternal
gratitude! <g>.

Regards,

Pop
 
Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general,microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

WordStar Resource Site!
http://www.petrie.u-net.com/

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In news:enp6mwzJFHA.1052@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl,
Pop <nobody@devnull.spamcop.net> hunted and pecked:
> Hi,
>
> Please forgive the cross-post; I think I need a wide audience to find
> the experience I need.
>
> I am trying to recover some very old *.WSD files created by the old
> word processor WordStar. I'm not sure whether it was the older DOS
> version or the later Windows version that was used to create them,
> but from the dates I suspect a mix.
>
> Does anyone know of a converter that would be capable of
> saving/changing these to Windows XP format; any of the Office or up
> to date apps would be fine as there are probably viewers it it's an
> app I don't have? I'd prefer something that might be able to work
> in a batch mode, but even having to open/close each file would still
> be acceptable - beggers can't be choosers, right? <g>
>
> I've tried the Office programs to no avail. Somewhere, I still have
> the WordStar for windows floppies, but they're so old that I doubt
> they'll be useful even if I do find them. They might even be CP/M
> hard-sectored format if I do find them so even if I could read them
> they're probably nothing but garbage by now.
>
> I am familiar with the WordStar file format, and I could actually get
> them back by manually editing them, but ... that's a pretty daunting
> task as there are quite a few I suddenly find myself needing.
> Besides, I'd rather get them all of course, and add them to the
> archives. Back in "that day" backups and archives weren't even buzz
> words yet, and when the switch to MS came along after WS went belly
> up, I never thought about converting them. C'est le vie!
> I have a win98 machine, full version and another winME CD set, if
> those might have anything useful.
>
> REWARD: Anyone providing a solution to this problem will earn my
> eternal gratitude! <g>.
>
> Regards,
>
> Pop
 
Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general,microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

"Pop" <nobody@devnull.spamcop.net> wrote in message
news:enp6mwzJFHA.1052@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> Hi,
>
> Please forgive the cross-post; I think I need a wide audience to find
> the experience I need.
>
> I am trying to recover some very old *.WSD files created by the old
> word processor WordStar. I'm not sure whether it was the older DOS
> version or the later Windows version that was used to create them, but
> from the dates I suspect a mix.
>
> Does anyone know of a converter that would be capable of
> saving/changing these to Windows XP format; any of the Office or up to
> date apps would be fine as there are probably viewers it it's an app I
> don't have?
> I'd prefer something that might be able to work in a batch mode, but
> even having to open/close each file would still be acceptable -
> beggers can't be choosers, right? <g>
>
> I've tried the Office programs to no avail. Somewhere, I still have
> the WordStar for windows floppies, but they're so old that I doubt
> they'll be useful even if I do find them. They might even be CP/M
> hard-sectored format if I do find them so even if I could read them
> they're probably nothing but garbage by now.
>
> I am familiar with the WordStar file format, and I could actually get
> them back by manually editing them, but ... that's a pretty daunting
> task as there are quite a few I suddenly find myself needing.
> Besides, I'd rather get them all of course, and add them to the
> archives. Back in "that day" backups and archives weren't even buzz
> words yet, and when the switch to MS came along after WS went belly
> up, I never thought about converting them. C'est le vie!
> I have a win98 machine, full version and another winME CD set, if
> those might have anything useful.
>
> REWARD: Anyone providing a solution to this problem will earn my
> eternal gratitude! <g>.
>
> Regards,
>
> Pop
>


MS Office 2002 lets you save a document in Wordstar 4 or Wordstar 7
formats, so I would suspect it would also know how to read them.

You will find an interesting history of Wordstar at
http://www.wordstar.org/wordstar/history/history.htm along with some
links to possible solutions.

--
____________________________________________________________
Post your replies to the newsgroup. Share with others.
E-mail reply: Remove "NIXTHIS" and add "#VS811" to Subject.
____________________________________________________________
 
Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general,microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

Despite the link name, it will take you to a program that will recover your
files..

http://www.thebeatlesforever.com/processtext/abctxt.html


--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/user

http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm





"Pop" <nobody@devnull.spamcop.net> wrote in message
news:enp6mwzJFHA.1052@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> Hi,
>
> Please forgive the cross-post; I think I need a wide audience to find the
> experience I need.
>
> I am trying to recover some very old *.WSD files created by the old word
> processor WordStar. I'm not sure whether it was the older DOS version or
> the later Windows version that was used to create them, but from the dates
> I suspect a mix.
>
> Does anyone know of a converter that would be capable of saving/changing
> these to Windows XP format; any of the Office or up to date apps would be
> fine as there are probably viewers it it's an app I don't have?
> I'd prefer something that might be able to work in a batch mode, but
> even having to open/close each file would still be acceptable - beggers
> can't be choosers, right? <g>
>
> I've tried the Office programs to no avail. Somewhere, I still have the
> WordStar for windows floppies, but they're so old that I doubt they'll be
> useful even if I do find them. They might even be CP/M hard-sectored
> format if I do find them so even if I could read them they're probably
> nothing but garbage by now.
>
> I am familiar with the WordStar file format, and I could actually get them
> back by manually editing them, but ... that's a pretty daunting task as
> there are quite a few I suddenly find myself needing. Besides, I'd rather
> get them all of course, and add them to the archives. Back in "that day"
> backups and archives weren't even buzz words yet, and when the switch to
> MS came along after WS went belly up, I never thought about converting
> them. C'est le vie!
> I have a win98 machine, full version and another winME CD set, if those
> might have anything useful.
>
> REWARD: Anyone providing a solution to this problem will earn my eternal
> gratitude! <g>.
>
> Regards,
>
> Pop
>
 
Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general,microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

QuickViewPLus might be able to do this.

Here is a link to the list of file formats it supports.

http://www.avantstar.com/stellent/groups/public/documents/word_files/quickviewplus8formats.pdf

The main Quickviewplus page is:

http://www.avantstar.com/stellent/intradoc-cgi/idc_cgi_isapi.dll?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&ssDocName=QuickViewPlusOverview


"Pop" <nobody@devnull.spamcop.net> wrote in message
news:enp6mwzJFHA.1052@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> Hi,
>
> Please forgive the cross-post; I think I need a wide audience to find the
> experience I need.
>
> I am trying to recover some very old *.WSD files created by the old word
> processor WordStar. I'm not sure whether it was the older DOS version or
> the later Windows version that was used to create them, but from the dates
> I suspect a mix.
>
> Does anyone know of a converter that would be capable of saving/changing
> these to Windows XP format; any of the Office or up to date apps would be
> fine as there are probably viewers it it's an app I don't have?
> I'd prefer something that might be able to work in a batch mode, but
> even having to open/close each file would still be acceptable - beggers
> can't be choosers, right? <g>
>
> I've tried the Office programs to no avail. Somewhere, I still have the
> WordStar for windows floppies, but they're so old that I doubt they'll be
> useful even if I do find them. They might even be CP/M hard-sectored
> format if I do find them so even if I could read them they're probably
> nothing but garbage by now.
>
> I am familiar with the WordStar file format, and I could actually get them
> back by manually editing them, but ... that's a pretty daunting task as
> there are quite a few I suddenly find myself needing. Besides, I'd rather
> get them all of course, and add them to the archives. Back in "that day"
> backups and archives weren't even buzz words yet, and when the switch to
> MS came along after WS went belly up, I never thought about converting
> them. C'est le vie!
> I have a win98 machine, full version and another winME CD set, if those
> might have anything useful.
>
> REWARD: Anyone providing a solution to this problem will earn my eternal
> gratitude! <g>.
>
> Regards,
>
> Pop
>
 
Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general,microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

My sincere apologies for disappearing suddenly; I am disabled and sometimes
"go away" for periods of time like that.

I'm looking into the referred links now; thank you all for the valuable
information. Joy might exist after all!

Regards,

Pop

--
Let someone else do it
I'm retired!
"Pop" <nobody@devnull.spamcop.net> wrote in message
news:enp6mwzJFHA.1052@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> Hi,
>
> Please forgive the cross-post; I think I need a wide audience to find the
> experience I need.
>
> I am trying to recover some very old *.WSD files created by the old word
> processor WordStar. I'm not sure whether it was the older DOS version or
> the later Windows version that was used to create them, but from the dates
> I suspect a mix.
>
> Does anyone know of a converter that would be capable of saving/changing
> these to Windows XP format; any of the Office or up to date apps would be
> fine as there are probably viewers it it's an app I don't have?
> I'd prefer something that might be able to work in a batch mode, but
> even having to open/close each file would still be acceptable - beggers
> can't be choosers, right? <g>
>
> I've tried the Office programs to no avail. Somewhere, I still have the
> WordStar for windows floppies, but they're so old that I doubt they'll be
> useful even if I do find them. They might even be CP/M hard-sectored
> format if I do find them so even if I could read them they're probably
> nothing but garbage by now.
>
> I am familiar with the WordStar file format, and I could actually get them
> back by manually editing them, but ... that's a pretty daunting task as
> there are quite a few I suddenly find myself needing. Besides, I'd rather
> get them all of course, and add them to the archives. Back in "that day"
> backups and archives weren't even buzz words yet, and when the switch to
> MS came along after WS went belly up, I never thought about converting
> them. C'est le vie!
> I have a win98 machine, full version and another winME CD set, if those
> might have anything useful.
>
> REWARD: Anyone providing a solution to this problem will earn my eternal
> gratitude! <g>.
>
> Regards,
>
> Pop
>
 
Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general,microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

--
Let someone else do it
I'm retired!
"Vanguard" <use_ReplyTo_header> wrote in message
news:e4rqjl0JFHA.1392@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> "Pop" <nobody@devnull.spamcop.net> wrote in message
> news:enp6mwzJFHA.1052@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
>> Hi,
>>
>> Please forgive the cross-post; I think I need a wide audience to find the
>> experience I need.
>>
>> I am trying to recover some very old *.WSD files created by the old word
>> processor WordStar. I'm not sure whether it was the older DOS version or
>> the later Windows version that was used to create them, but from the
>> dates I suspect a mix.
>>
>> Does anyone know of a converter that would be capable of saving/changing
>> these to Windows XP format; any of the Office or up to date apps would be
>> fine as there are probably viewers it it's an app I don't have?
>> I'd prefer something that might be able to work in a batch mode, but
>> even having to open/close each file would still be acceptable - beggers
>> can't be choosers, right? <g>
>>
>> I've tried the Office programs to no avail. Somewhere, I still have the
>> WordStar for windows floppies, but they're so old that I doubt they'll be
>> useful even if I do find them. They might even be CP/M hard-sectored
>> format if I do find them so even if I could read them they're probably
>> nothing but garbage by now.
>>
>> I am familiar with the WordStar file format, and I could actually get
>> them back by manually editing them, but ... that's a pretty daunting task
>> as there are quite a few I suddenly find myself needing. Besides, I'd
>> rather get them all of course, and add them to the archives. Back in
>> "that day" backups and archives weren't even buzz words yet, and when the
>> switch to MS came along after WS went belly up, I never thought about
>> converting them. C'est le vie!
>> I have a win98 machine, full version and another winME CD set, if those
>> might have anything useful.
>>
>> REWARD: Anyone providing a solution to this problem will earn my eternal
>> gratitude! <g>.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Pop
>>
>
>
> MS Office 2002 lets you save a document in Wordstar 4 or Wordstar 7
> formats, so I would suspect it would also know how to read them.
>
> You will find an interesting history of Wordstar at
> http://www.wordstar.org/wordstar/history/history.htm along with some links
> to possible solutions.
>

Hmm, no such animal on my system, XP Pro Office 2002. I'd already checked,
but looked again; no Save As for WS, and it won't open them. I don't seen
anything in Setup either. Maybe you had a utility you added?
Sokay, I'm making headway, I think.

Thanks anyway,

Pop
 
Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general,microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

In news:OMLFfKIQFHA.3296@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl,
Pop <nobody@devnull.spamcop.net> had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> Please forgive the cross-post; I think I need a wide audience to
>>> find the experience I need.
>>>
>>> I am trying to recover some very old *.WSD files created by the old
>>> word processor WordStar. I'm not sure whether it was the older DOS
>>> version or the later Windows version that was used to create them,
>>> but from the dates I suspect a mix.
>>>
>>> Does anyone know of a converter that would be capable of
>>> saving/changing these to Windows XP format; any of the Office or up
>>> to date apps would be fine as there are probably viewers it it's an
>>> app I don't have? I'd prefer something that might be able to work
>>> in a batch mode, but even having to open/close each file would
>>> still be acceptable - beggers can't be choosers, right? <g>
>>>
>>> I've tried the Office programs to no avail. Somewhere, I still
>>> have the WordStar for windows floppies, but they're so old that I
>>> doubt they'll be useful even if I do find them. They might even be
>>> CP/M hard-sectored format if I do find them so even if I could read
>>> them they're probably nothing but garbage by now.
>>>
>>> I am familiar with the WordStar file format, and I could actually
>>> get them back by manually editing them, but ... that's a pretty
>>> daunting task as there are quite a few I suddenly find myself
>>> needing. Besides, I'd rather get them all of course, and add them
>>> to the archives. Back in "that day" backups and archives weren't
>>> even buzz words yet, and when the switch to MS came along after WS
>>> went belly up, I never thought about converting them. C'est le vie!
>>> I have a win98 machine, full version and another winME CD set, if
>>> those might have anything useful.
>>>
>>> REWARD: Anyone providing a solution to this problem will earn my
>>> eternal gratitude! <g>.
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>>
>>> Pop

Try both OpenOffice ( www.openoffice.org ) and their forums. I seem to
recall that they had a bypass for this.

Galen
--
Signature changed for a moment of silence.
Rest well Alex and we'll see you on the other side.
 
Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general,microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

Galen wrote:
> In news:OMLFfKIQFHA.3296@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl,
> Pop <nobody@devnull.spamcop.net> had this to say:
>
> My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:
>
>
>>>>Hi,
>>>>
>>>>Please forgive the cross-post; I think I need a wide audience to
>>>>find the experience I need.
>>>>
>>>>I am trying to recover some very old *.WSD files created by the old
>>>>word processor WordStar. I'm not sure whether it was the older DOS
>>>>version or the later Windows version that was used to create them,
>>>>but from the dates I suspect a mix.
>>>>
>>>>Does anyone know of a converter that would be capable of
>>>>saving/changing these to Windows XP format; any of the Office or up
>>>>to date apps would be fine as there are probably viewers it it's an
>>>> app I don't have? I'd prefer something that might be able to work
>>>>in a batch mode, but even having to open/close each file would
>>>>still be acceptable - beggers can't be choosers, right? <g>
>>>>
>>>>I've tried the Office programs to no avail. Somewhere, I still
>>>>have the WordStar for windows floppies, but they're so old that I
>>>>doubt they'll be useful even if I do find them. They might even be
>>>>CP/M hard-sectored format if I do find them so even if I could read
>>>>them they're probably nothing but garbage by now.
>>>>
>>>>I am familiar with the WordStar file format, and I could actually
>>>>get them back by manually editing them, but ... that's a pretty
>>>>daunting task as there are quite a few I suddenly find myself
>>>>needing. Besides, I'd rather get them all of course, and add them
>>>>to the archives. Back in "that day" backups and archives weren't
>>>>even buzz words yet, and when the switch to MS came along after WS
>>>>went belly up, I never thought about converting them. C'est le vie!
>>>> I have a win98 machine, full version and another winME CD set, if
>>>>those might have anything useful.
>>>>
>>>>REWARD: Anyone providing a solution to this problem will earn my
>>>>eternal gratitude! <g>.
>>>>
>>>>Regards,
>>>>
>>>>Pop
>
>
> Try both OpenOffice ( www.openoffice.org ) and their forums. I seem to
> recall that they had a bypass for this.
>
> Galen

If no luck with OpenOffice, (Corel)WordPerfect may be able to open your
WordStar files. You could ask in the corel.WordPerfect_older_versions
newsgroup(cnews.corel.com newsserver)or I will ask for you if you
prefer. If it does the job, an older version of WordPerfect could
probably be obtained fairly cheaply (if you ask around the net) with
which you then may be able to convert into Word docs if necessary.
Or if you prefer, since I have both WordPerfect 11 and MS Word 2000 on
my computer I could try some test conversions for you.

Ann W.
To E-mail remove the NOTSO from my addy.
 
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